Rutgers recruiting class ranked # 17 by the Open Mat. This ranking is more realistic than the Intermat ranking as there are too many question marks. Last year Robinson underperformed, Brenner did not repeat, Lightner was injured all year, and Jones and Ciarmella are career practice partners.
17) Rutgers
#3 at 182 Billy Janzer (Delsea, NJ) 184
#4 at 120 Nic Aguilar (Gilroy, CA) 125
#11 at 138 Jake Benner (Ocean Township, NJ) 141
JC Ciaremella (Marvin Ridge, NC) 174
Jerry Jones (Caldwell, NJ) 157
Kyle Lightner (Delaware Valley, NJ) 197
Malcolm Robinson (Blair Academy, NJ) 149
Rutgers class is heavily reliant on two top 50 recruits Nic Aguilar, a California state champion, and two-time New Jersey champion Billy Janzer. Aguilar will be needed, if and when, NCAA runner-up Nick Suriano moves up to 133 lbs. Signing such a high-level recruit from California is another mark of how far this program has come under head coach Scott Goodale. Janzer, one of the top 184 lb recruits in the nation, will be able to take over for Nick Gravina after he uses his sixth year of eligibility. Jake Benner and Malcolm Robinson will bring depth to the middleweights. Benner is two-time New Jersey finalist, and Robinson was a 2017 National Prep champion that had a bit of a down senior season, at least by his standards.